Slip resistant stationary baby walker

ABSTRACT

A stationary baby walker including a slip resistant mat upon which a baby may practice walking.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to baby walkers, and moreparticularly to a stationary baby walker with a slip resistant matallowing a child to safely practice walking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Baby walkers are used to allow children to safely practice walking. Suchwalkers may be comprised of a mobile structure. A child may freely moveabout via this structure while practicing walking. Known prior art ofthis design is typified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,639 (filed May 13, 1987).

A disadvantage of baby walkers comprised of a mobile structure is theuncertainty of where the child may take the structure. There is asubstantial risk that the child may roam off in the walker. Worse stillis the possibility that a child may maneuver over an edge, namely theedge of a set of stairs, and get injured. If a child maneuvers over anedge of a set of stairs, the child may either fall out of the walker orthe child may fall while remaining in the walker.

An estimated 8800 children under the age of 15 months were treated inhospital emergency rooms in 1999 for injuries associated with the use ofmobile infant walkers. Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention,Injuries Associated with Infant Walkers, Pediatrics, Vol. 108, No. 3,September 2001, at 790. In fact, between 1973 and 1998, thirty fourdeaths associated with the use of mobile infant walkers were reported tothe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Stairs were implicated inas many as 96% of cases of infant falls, either falls from the mobilewalker or falls with the infant remaining in the mobile walker. Stairswere also implicated in almost every case resulting in severe injuries.

To avoid these problems, baby walkers may alternatively be comprised ofa fixed stationary frame with a mobile inner component. Walkers of thisvariety allow a child to practice walking by moving about in a finitespace while supported on a mobile seat. Known prior art of this designis typified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,047 (filed Mar. 5, 1998).

A disadvantage of baby walkers comprised of a fixed stationary framewith a mobile inner component is the requirement that such a device beplaced on a surface which provides the child traction (e.g., carpet). Ifthe unit is placed on a low friction surface (e.g., linoleum), the childwill be unable to practice walking due to lack of traction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a stationary walker including a frame, amovable inner seat, and a slip resistant mat on which a child may walk.The stationary walker may be placed on any surface, including slipperysurfaces (e.g., linoleum), and still the child may practice walking. Theslip resistant mat will also help keep the child's feet clean even ifthe stationary walker is placed, for instance, outside on grass or dirt.

In one embodiment of the invention, a stationary baby walker having ahorizontally oriented rectangular upper frame including a rail system isprovided. At a horizontal plane below the level of the horizontallyoriented rectangular upper extent, but above the level of the floor, aslip resistant mat is located. This slip resistant mat encompassessubstantially the entire surface area below the vertical projections ofthe inner or outer edges of the horizontally oriented rectangular upperextent. The slip resistant mat may also encompass some other area. Themat is designed to provide traction for the child. A child may thusutilize the stationary walker and practice walking independent of thesurface upon which the walker is placed.

A plurality of interchangeable toys may be provided to encourage thechild to walk back and forth in the stationary walker. These toys mayinclude teethers which massage the gums, toys with mirrors, and evensimple electronic devices which light up or make noise. Theseinterchangeable toys may be removably affixed to the frame.

The above mentioned and other features of this invention, and the mannerof attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itselfwill be better understood by reference to the following description ofembodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a baby walker with a slip resistant mataccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame of the baby walker with a slipresistant mat according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat assembly according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the rail and side bar connection.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the rail and seatassembly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, takenalong line 1-1 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the rail and seat assembly,according to another embodiment of the present invention, taken alongline 1-1 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the rail and seat assembly,according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, takenalong line 1-1 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the interchangeable toy and toy holderconnection.

FIG. 9 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a toy holder and aninterchangeable toy, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 1-1 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a toy holder and aninterchangeable toy, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 1-1 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the seat assembly and baby seat,according to one embodiment of the present invention, taken along line2-2 shown in FIG. 3.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of thepresent invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explainthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed below, and the specific accompanying languageused to describe the same, are not intended to be exhaustive or to limitthe invention to the precise form disclosed in the following detaileddescription. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so thatothers skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. The inventionthus includes any alterations and further modifications in theillustrated device which would normally occur to one skilled in the artto which the invention relates.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a frame 110 is provided which includesan upper structure 112 with an open interior space 114 carried on aplurality of supports 116. The upper structure 112 is composed of a pairof parallel side bars 118 and a pair of parallel end bars 120 which areshorter than the parallel side bars 118 and which are affixedperpendicular to the parallel side bars 118 in a common horizontalplane. Rails 122 are located on, and affixed to, the parallel side bars118. The significance of the rails 122 will be clarified later in thisdetailed description. A plurality of toy holders 124 are provided whichallow interchangeable toys 126 to be removably affixed to the frame 110.These toy holders 124 may be located on the upper structure 112, alongthe top of the parallel side bars 118 and the parallel end bars 120.Finally, a slip resistant mat 128 is located in a horizontal planeadjacent to the floor at the base of the frame 110 and, in oneembodiment, encompasses substantially the entire area defined by thevertical projections of the inner part of the upper structure 110. Theslip resistant mat 128 may be either permanently or removably affixed tothe frame 110 at the lower portions of one or more of the plurality ofsupports 116.

Alternatively, the slip resistant mat 128 may encompass substantiallythe entire area defined by the vertical projections of the outer part ofthe upper structure 112. The slip resistant mat 128 may evensubstantially cover an area other than what may be defined by verticalprojections of the upper structure 112.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, a seat assembly 130 is shown containingan aperture 132. The seat assembly 130 is supported on the rails 122which are affixed to the parallel side bars 118 of the upper structure112. The seat assembly is configured to slide to each end of the frame110 on the rails 122. The baby seat 134 is located in and under theaperture 132 in the seat assembly 130. The baby seat 134 is affixed tothe seat assembly 130. The baby seat 134 itself may be made of cloth ora similar material. The baby seat 134 is configured to rotate 360°within the seat assembly 130.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of the connection between therail 122 and side bar 118 is shown. The rail 122 is connected to theside bar 118 using an interactive member 410. The interactive member 410is a physical connection between the rail 122 and the side bar 118. Theinteractive member 410 may be located in or on the rail 122, the sidebar 118, or both.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the rail 122′, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, is an inwardly projecting wall 510 with a ridge 512 extendingsubstantially perpendicular to the inwardly projecting wall 510. Sidebar 118′, inwardly projecting wall 510, and ridge 512 form a channel514. The seat assembly 130 has an outwardly projecting wall 516 with aninverted ridge 518. Seat assembly 130, outwardly projecting wall 516,and inverted ridge 518 form an interactive member 520 which interactswith the channel 514. The rails 122′ thus support the seat assembly 130.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the rail system may alternatively include agroove 122″, located on the top edge of each of the parallel side bars118, and ball bearings 610. Ball bearings 610 are also situated within acorresponding inverted groove 612 in the seat assembly 130. Through thisarrangement, the parallel side bars 118 support the seat assembly 130,and the ball bearings 610 allow the seat assembly 130 to traverse thelength of the groove 122″ on the top of the parallel side bars 118.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the rail system may, in yet another embodimentof the present invention, include at least one wheel 710 operatingwithin the side bar 118′. The side bar includes an inner substantiallyvertical wall 712, an outer substantially vertical wall 714, an uppersubstantially horizontal wall 716, a first lower substantiallyhorizontal wall 718, and a second lower substantially horizontal wall720. These five walls form a side bar 118′ with a hollow interior 722and a slot 724 which both run the length of the side bar 118′.

The at least one wheel 710 is rotably connected to an axle 726. The axleis connected to a first substantially vertical member 728 extending downthrough the slot 724. The first substantially vertical member 728 isconnected to a substantially horizontal member 730 which is alsoconnected to a second substantially vertical member 732. The secondsubstantially vertical member 732 is connected to the seat assembly 130.

The at least one wheel 710 operates within the hollow interior 722 ofthe side bar 118′. The at least one wheel 710 rests vertically on theupper face of at least one of the first lower substantially horizontalwall 718 and the second lower substantially horizontal wall 720. Theside bar 118′ rests vertically on at least one of the plurality ofsupports 116 such that the at least one of the plurality of supports 116do not obstruct the slot 724, first substantially vertical member 728,or substantially horizontal member 732. This arrangement reduces thepossibility of a child pinching its fingers due to the difficulty of achild reaching down, under, and back up into, the slot 724.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a block diagram of the connection between theinterchangeable toy 126 and the toy holder 124 is shown. An interactivemember 810 connects the interchangeable toy 126 to the toy holder 124.The interactive member 810 may be a clip system, glue, screws, nails,buttons, clasps, or any other structure or device that can affix theinterchangeable toy 126 to the toy holder 124. The interactive member810 may be located in or on the interchangeable toy 126, the toy holder124, or both.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an interchangeable toy 126 is shown. Theinterchangeable toy 126 is connected to a toy base 910. The toy base 910has a plurality of clips 912 extending up from the bottom of the toybase 910. Each of the clips 912 has a protrusion 914. The clips 912 areresilient such that after being compressed, and subsequently released,they return to their original positions. The toy holder 124 includes acavity 916 with a plurality of recesses 918 near the bottomcorresponding to the protrusions 914 of the clips 912 on the toy base910. The number of recesses 918 near the bottom of the cavity 916 of thetoy holder 124 may correspond to the number of clips 912 on the toy base910 of the interchangeable toys 126.

The interchangeable toys 126 are placed in the toy holders 124 byaligning the plurality of clips 912 with the recesses 918 of the toyholder 124. Because the inner walls 920 of the toy holder are angled, asare the contours of the protrusions 914 and the clips 912, downwardforce applied to the top of the toy base 910 will secure theinterchangeable toy 126 in the toy holder 124 because the protrusions914 fit into the recesses 918 near the bottom of the cavity 916 of thetoy holder 124.

The interchangeable toys 126 are removed from the toy holders 124 bycompressing the plurality of clips 912 towards each other. This causesthe small protrusions 914 to move towards each other, away from theinner walls 920 of the toy holder 124. While the clips 912 remaincompressed, and the protrusions 914 are free of the recesses 918 in thecavity 916 of the toy holder 124, the interchangeable toy 126 may beextracted from the toy holder 124. It should be remembered that theplurality of clips 912 are resilient such that after being compressed,and subsequently released, they return to their original positions.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an interchangeable toy 126′ according toanother embodiment of the present invention is shown. Theinterchangeable toy 126′ is connected to a toy base 910′. The toy holder124′ is comprised of a cavity 916′ with a magnet 1010 located on thebottom of the cavity 916′ of the toy holder 124′. The magnet 1010 may beheld in place with an adhesive, screw, nail, or other fastening device.A complementary magnet 1012, with the opposite polarity of magnet 1010,is affixed to the underside of the toy base 910′. The complementarymagnet 1012 may be affixed with an adhesive, screw, nail, or otherfastening device.

The interchangeable toy 126′ is placed in the toy holder 124′ byapplying downward force to the top of the toy base 910′. Because theinner walls 920′ of the toy holder are angled, as are the contours ofthe toy base 910′, the interchangeable toy 126′ simply slides intoplace. The magnet 1010 is attracted to the complementary magnet 1012,thus securing the interchangeable toy 126′ in the toy holder 124′.

The interchangeable toy 126′ is removed from the toy holder 124′ byapplying an upward force, away from the toy holder 124′. This force needonly be large enough to break the magnetic bond between the magnet 1010and the complementary magnet 1012. Ideally, the magnet 1010 andcomplementary magnet 1012 form a magnetic bond strong enough to preventa baby or toddler from removing the interchangeable toy 126′, but weakenough for an adult to remove the interchangeable toy 126′.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the baby seat 134 and seat assembly 130according to one embodiment of the present invention are shown. The babyseat 134 depends from the baby seat support 1110 which is carried on theseat assembly 130 via ball bearings 1112. The ball bearings 1112 restbetween a groove 1114 in the seat assembly 130 and an inverted groove1116 in the baby seat support 1110. The baby seat 134 and baby seatsupport 1110 are affixed to one another. When a baby, using the slipresistant stationary baby walker of the present invention, rotateswithin the baby seat 134, the baby seat support 1110 also rotates. Boththe baby seat support 1110 and the baby seat 134 are configured torotate on the seat assembly 130 because ball bearings 1112 permit suchrotation. The baby seat support 1110 rolls over the ball bearings 1112which, in turn, roll over the seat assembly 130. In this manner, a babyis capable of rotating with the baby seat 134 while remaining in theslip resistant stationary baby walker of the present invention.

The stationary walker of the present invention is used by placing achild in the baby seat 134. While in the baby seat 134, the child mayplay with the interchangeable toys 126 at one end of the walker. Thechild may then turn around in the baby seat 134, which is configured torotate within the seat assembly 130, and proceed to walk down the lengthof the stationary walker. While walking, the child is supported in thebaby seat 134 which, in turn, is supported by the baby seat support 1110and the seat assembly 130 resting on the rails 122 affixed to the sidebars 118 of the upper structure 112. While walking down the length ofthe stationary walker, the child is unlikely to slip because the slipresistant mat 128 provides the child with traction. Even when thestationary walker is placed on a slippery surface, the child will beassured of traction on the slip resistant mat 128. Upon reaching theopposite end of the stationary walker, the child may play with some ofthe interchangeable toys 126 located there. Again, the child may rotatewithin the walker by turning in the baby seat 134, which is configuredto rotate within the seat assembly 130. Once rotated, the child maysafely walk back to the original location.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design,the present invention may be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known of customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains.

1. A stationary baby walker including: (a) a frame; (b) a baby seat; and(c) a slip resistant mat connected to the frame.
 2. The stationary babywalker of claim 1, wherein the frame includes an upper structure with anopen interior space.
 3. The stationary baby walker of claim 2, whereinthe upper structure with an open interior space includes: (a) a pair ofparallel side bars; and (b) a pair of parallel end bars which areshorter than the parallel side bars.
 4. The stationary baby walker ofclaim 3, wherein the parallel end bars are affixed perpendicular to theparallel side bars.
 5. The stationary baby walker of claim 3, whereinthe parallel end bars are affixed in a common horizontal plane with theparallel side bars.
 6. The stationary baby walker of claim 3, wherein arail system is affixed to the parallel side bars.
 7. The stationary babywalker of claim 6, wherein the rail system includes a channel, having afirst substantially horizontal wall, extending away from the parallelside bars and towards the open interior space, and a ridge extendingsubstantially perpendicular to the first wall.
 8. The stationary babywalker of claim 6, wherein the rail system includes a groove configuredto accommodate a ball bearing.
 9. The stationary baby walker of claim 3,wherein the rail system includes a cavity inside the parallel side barswith a slot running the length of each parallel side bar located on theunderside of the parallel side bars allowing at least one wheel tooperate inside each parallel side bar, the at least one wheel beingrotably mounted to a connecting member which extends out through theslot in the bottom of the parallel side bar and is connected to the babyseat.
 10. The stationary baby walker of claim 1, wherein the frameincludes a plurality of supports.
 11. The stationary baby walker ofclaim 10, wherein the plurality of supports are substantially verticallyoriented and connected to the frame.
 12. The stationary baby walker ofclaim 11, wherein the plurality of supports are removably connected tothe frame.
 13. The stationary baby walker of claim 1, wherein the babyseat includes: (a) a planar support plate; (b) an aperture in the planarsupport plate; (c) means for seating a child within the aperture; and(d) means for mounting the baby seat to the frame.
 14. The stationarybaby walker of claim 13, wherein the planar support plate includes anoutwardly projecting wall with an inverted ridge, forming an interactivemember which is configured to interact with a channel affixed to theparallel side bars of the upper structure of the frame.
 15. Thestationary baby walker of claim 13, wherein the planar support plateincludes an inverted groove configured to accommodate a ball bearingoperating in a corresponding groove of the rail system affixed to theparallel side bars of the upper structure of the frame.
 16. Thestationary baby walker of claim 13, wherein the baby seat is configuredto rotate 360° about an axis extending through the aperture whilemounted to the frame.
 17. The stationary baby walker of claim 1, whereinthe slip resistant mat is connected to the frame and in a horizontalplane adjacent to the floor.
 18. The stationary baby walker of claim 1,wherein the slip resistant mat encompasses substantially the entire areadefined by the vertical projection of an edge of the frame.
 19. Astationary baby walker including: (a) a frame; (b) a baby seat; and (c)a plurality of toys interchangeably mounted to a plurality of toyholders located on the frame.
 20. The stationary baby walker of claim19, wherein each of the plurality of toys is configured to be removablymounted to one of the plurality of toys holders.
 21. The stationary babywalker of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of toys is mounted toone of the plurality of toy holders via a magnet located on theunderside of the toy and a magnet of the opposite polarity located onthe bottom of the toy holder.
 22. The stationary baby walker of claim20, wherein each of the plurality of toys is mounted to one of theplurality of toy holders via a clip with one or more protrusions locatedon the bottom of the toy which correspond to one or more recesses in thecavity of the toy holder.
 23. A stationary baby walker including: (a) aframe including: (1) an upper structure with an open interior spaceincluding: (i) a pair of parallel side bars wherein a rail system isaffixed to the inner side of the parallel side bars comprising achannel, having a first substantially horizontal wall, extending awayfrom the parallel side bars and towards the open interior space, and aridge extending substantially perpendicular to the first wall; and (ii)a pair of parallel end bars which are shorter than the parallel sidebars, affixed perpendicular to the parallel side bars, and affixed in acommon horizontal plane with the parallel side bars; and (2) a pluralityof supports which are substantially vertically oriented and connected tothe frame. (b) a baby seat which is mounted to a rail system on theframe including: (1) a planar support plate including an outwardlyprojecting wall with an inverted ridge, forming an interactive memberwhich is configured to interact with the channel affixed to the parallelside bars of the upper structure of the frame. (2) an aperture in theplanar support plate; (3) means for seating the child within theaperture such that the child may freely rotate 360°; and (4) means formounting the baby seat to the frame; (c) a slip resistant mat connectedto the frame in a horizontal plane adjacent to the floor by connectionsto at least one of the plurality of supports of the frame and whichencompasses substantially the entire area defined by the verticalprojections of the inner edges of the upper structure; and (d) aplurality of toys with means for removably mounting the plurality oftoys to a plurality of toy holders and which are interchangeably mountedto a plurality of toy holders located on the frame.